Pull cord attaching device



Feb. 22, 1938. w. RIBERDY PULL CORD ATTACHING DEVICE Filed 06 29, 1936 Patented Feb. 22, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT GFFIQE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to roller shades and other similar curtains, and to means for attaching a pull cord thereto. Such shades are commonly provided with a hem at the bottom and with a light wooden reenforcing strip, held in place in the hem by an eyelet extending through the hem and strip. A pull cord is commonlylooped through this eyelet in such manner that the lowor part of the hem is puckered and rendered more or less unsightly.

It is the object of my invention to provide an improved attaching device by which a pull cord may be quickly and easily secured to a shade or curtain in such manner that the'edge of the hem will not be distorted.

A further object is to provide an attaching device for such purposes which may be easily and economically manufactured and which is ornamental and pleasing when in use.

An important feature of the invention relates to the provision of an attaching device having a yielding structure by reason of which the device is frictionally held in assembled relation with the eyelet but is readily removable therefrom.

My invention further relates to arrangements and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claim.

A preferred form of the invention is shown in the drawing, in which Fig. l is a side elevation of a portion of 2. ourtain or shade having my invention assembled therewith;

Fig. 2 is a sectional side elevation, taken along the line 22 in Fig. 1 but showing the parts partially assembled;

Fig. 3 is a sectional View similar to Fig. 2 but showing the parts fully assembled;

Fig. l is a sectional plan view, taken along the line 4-4 in Fig. 1 but showing the attaching device separated;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the device, looking in the direction of the arrow 5 in Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view, taken along the line 6-6 in Fig. 4.

Referring to the drawing, I have shown a portion of a window curtain or shade S having a hem portion H in which a wooden reenforcing strip W is inserted. The hem H and strip W are retained in assembled relation by an eyelet l inserted through openings in the hem and strip and flanged over at both ends as clearly shown in the drawing.

The parts thus far described are of the usual construction and in themselves form no part of my present invention, which relates to a special device for attaching a pull cord C to the bottom of the shade S.

My improved attaching device is preferably formed of a single piece of resilient sheet metal by one or more forming and pressing operations. and comprises a substantially cylindrical body portion 2%, open at one end and partially closed at the other end by a relatively narrow connecting strip 2i, and having longitudinal openings 22 in its opposite sides.

These openings 22 are enlarged adjacent the connecting strip it, as indicated at 23 in Fig. 4, thus providing room for the cord C when the cord is assembled therewith.

The side walls of the substantially cylindrical body 2% are of the segmental cross section shown at 24 in Fig. 6, and are of such outside diameter that when assembled in the eyelet It, as indicated in Fig. 3, the body 20 will be a close sliding or frictional fit therein.

Enlarged transverse end portions 30 are formed on each half of the open end of the cylindrical body portion 2|], these enlarged portions 38 being of any desired shape or ornamentation.

When the attaching device is free from the eyelet ill the parts thereof assume the position shown in Fig. 4, with the enlarged end portions 30 disposed in separate planes slightly and oppositely inclined to a plane perpendicular to the cylindrical axis of the body 29.

When the attaching device is attached to a cord C and drawn into an eyelet H] as indicated in Fig. 3, the two halves of the body 2E1 are forced toward each other to substantially cylindrical shape, and the enlarged end portions 30 are brought into substantial coincidence with a plane perpendicular to the cylindrical axis of the body 29.

The resilience of the sheet metal tends to force the two parts of the body portion 29 away from each other and into firm frictional engagement with the eyelet H3, thus firmly holding the attaching device in position but permitting convenient removal thereof.

It will be understood that the contour of the enlarged end portions Ell is illustrative only, and that the shape as well as the surface ornamentation thereof may be widely varied as desired.

As my improved attaching device is made from a single piece of sheet metal entirely by simple pressing and forming operations, the device may be very economically manufactured in quantity and may thus be made available for commercial purposes at an attractive price.

metal and having a substantially cylindrical body portion open at one end and at diametrically opposite sides to receive said cord and bridged across at the other end to retain said cord and having enlarged outer end portions formed integral with the separated open ends of said body portion, said end portions being disposed against one face of the curtain and substantially in a single plane perpendicular to the cylindrical axis of said body portion and eyelet when said attach- 10 ment is in assembled relationwith said curtain.

WILLIAM L. RIBERDY. 

